Detlefsen, Myles win major awards for UTSA baseball in the American Conference

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

Drew Detlefsen. East Carolina beat UTSA 3-0 in American Conference baseball on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen was named on Tuesday as the Player of the Year in the American Conference. The senior from Trophy Club batted .385. His 92 hits led the American and and ranked tied for second in the nation. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners figured they would be good in baseball again this season even after losing stalwarts such as Mason Lytle, James Taussig, Braylon Owens and Zach Royse to the professional ranks.

But when the Roadrunners lost both infielder Nathan Hodge and pitcher Robert Orloski to season-ending arm injuries, questions about the team’s viability as an American Conference contender mounted.

UTSA answered most of the questions by finishing tied for first in the American and earning the No. 1 seed in this week’s conference tournament in Clearwater, Fla.

Conor Myles. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA’s Conor Myles has been named Pitcher of the Year in the American. Myles posted a 9-1 record with a 3.52 earned run average. – File photo by Joe Alexander

On top of that, they dominated the postseason awards announced Tuesday afternoon.

Senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen was named Player of the Year and graduate Conor Myles Pitcher of the Year.

It was the second straight year that a UTSA player under Coach Pat Hallmark has been named Player of the Year after Lytle won it last spring.

Before addressing his own award, Detlefsen said the mood of the team is “great” heading into Clearwater.

“We’re going into this tournament ready to compete, ready to win,” he said. “Ready to take home a conference tournament championship. I think the morale is high right now. We’re going to get after it on Friday.”

Detlefsen said it feels good to win the individual honor, continuing the legacy of success at UTSA, led by Hallmark and assistant coach Ryan Aguayo.

“Just fortunate to get Player of the Year this year,” he said.

Detlefsen has made a sizable improvement in his fielding since he arrived at UTSA in 2025.

This season, he was a standout in left field with the ability to make acrobatic catches at the wall and throw out runners on the bases.

But as a .385 hitter, which ranks second in the conference and 29th in the nation, he won the award largely because of his bat.

A native of Trophy Club, in the DFW area, he led the conference in both hits (92) and RBI (67).

His 92 hits are tied for second in NCAA Division I with Terrance Grines of Tennessee-Martin, only eight shy of the national leader, Jarren Advincula of the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets.

“I honestly didn’t know that,” Detlefsen told reporters Tuesday. “That’s pretty awesome.

“I’m going to try to continue to hit this weekend going forward into, hopefully, (NCAA) regionals and see where I get at the end of the season.”

Hallmark has been hard on Detlefsen at times this year, trying to make sure he reached his potential. The Roadrunners’ offensive catalyst didn’t take it personally.

“He’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” said the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder, who hit a team-leading 13 home runs. “He gets the most out of me.”

Pat Hallmark. UAB beat UTSA 23-11 in 8 innings in American Conference baseball on Saturday, May 16, in the final home game of the season at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Coach Pat Hallmark will lead the Roadrunners into Clearwater, Fla., this week as the No. 1 seed in the American tournament. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Detlefsen and Myles joined Caden Miller, Andrew Stucky and Sam Simmons as first-team all conference selections, while second-team honors went to Connor Kelley.

While Myles, Simmons and Kelley led the pitching staff this season, Miller played first base and outfield. Stucky was a catcher and also a designated hitter.

As a Saturday night starter, Myles (9-1) led the conference in wins and ranked fifth in earned run average (3.52).

“(Pitcher of the Year) means a lot,” he said. “It was a goal that I had the entire year, especially at the start of the year after Rob got hurt. I knew that I had to pick up some slack with Rob not being available.

“I think the coaches just put me in a great position to succeed, and even though our defense has looked a little bit iffy at some points, they definitely were a big reason for my successful year this year.”

Despite UTSA losing five of its last eight games overall and its last two series in conference play, Myles said he feels good about the team’s chances going into the tournament.

“I think we got a really good chance, actually,” he said. “I mean, we have to win three games (to win the postseason title). Three games and we’re into another (NCAA) regionals.

“There’s been some bumps in the road,” he said. “We’ve seen how good this team can be when we play good, sound baseball.

“If we can get back to that, which I have no doubt that we can, we’re going to be a pretty tough team to beat.”

Asked if he thinks UTSA needs to win three in Clearwater to make the NCAA field, Myles said he didn’t know, but he doesn’t want to leave it to the committee.

“I’d rather go in there and win the conference tournament,” he said. “It’s also the only thing I haven’t really done since I’ve been here. I’ve been to a regional. I’ve been to a super (regional).

“Never won a conference tournament, so that’s something I’m really trying to go for this year.”

Caden Miller. UTSA beat Wichita State 13-7 in American Conference baseball in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2, 2026. - photo by Joe Alexander

Caden Miller, a first-team, all-conference selection, finished the regular season third in the American with a .377 batting average. – File photo by Joe Alexander

American Conference
Postseason awards

Player of the Year
Drew Detlefsen, senior outfielder, UTSA

Pitcher of the Year
Conor Myles, graduate student, LHP, UTSA

Newcomer Position Player of the Year
Jayson Jones, senior, infielder, Wichita State

Newcomer Pitcher of the Year
Tanner Wiggins, redshirt sophomore, RHP, Rice

Defensive Player of the Year
Jevin Relaford, senior, infielder, South Florida

Coach of the Year
Casey Dunn, UAB

All-Conference First Team
P – Ethan Norby, junior, East Carolina
P – James Litman, sophomore, Florida Atlantic
P – Conor Myles, graduate, UTSA
RP – Joseph Webb, senior, East Carolina
RP – Sam Simmons, senior, UTSA
C – Andrew Stucky, graduate, UTSA

Andrew Stucky. UTSA beat South Florida 11-3 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA graduate student catcher Andrew Stucky hit .302 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs. . – File photo by Joe Alexander

1B – Caden Miller, sophomore, UTSA
2B – Braden Burress, sophomore, East Carolina
SS – Jevin Relaford, senior, South Florida
3B – Jayson Jones, senior, Wichita State
OF – JP Head, senior, UAB
OF – Drew Detlefsen, senior, UTSA
OF – Jason Wachs, sophomore, Tulane
DH – Dylan Koontz, graduate, Charlotte
UTL – Max Price, redshirt junior, UAB

All-Conference Second Team
P – Ryland Urbanczyk, redshirt junior, Rice
P – Connor Kelley, junior, UTSA
P – Matthew Cuccias, junior, Wichita State
RP – Ty Thames, freshman, Rice
RP – Brady Pacha, graduate, Wichita State
C – Lance Trippel, senior, South Florida
1B – Cody Gunderson, senior, Charlotte
2B – JC Davis, junior, Rice
SS – Javon Hernandez, graduate, Memphis
3B – Nick Romano, redshirt senior, Florida Atlantic
OF – Alec DeMartino, graduate, Charlotte
OF – Todd Hudson, senior, Charlotte
OF – Jack Herring, senior, East Carolina
DH – Landon Beaver, sophomore, UAB
UTL – Matt Rose, senior, South Florida

All-Freshman Team
Austin Pierzynski, catcher, UAB
Baylor Roberts, shortstop, UAB
Carter Samuelson, pitcher, UAB
Grady Lenahan, outfielder, East Carolina
Ethan Rose, pitcher, East Carolina
Ethan Sanders, pitcher, Rice
Ty Thames, pitcher, Rice
Jack Lutz, third base, South Florida
Dominic Pontbriant, pitcher, South Florida
Michael Senay, pitcher, South Florida

Sam Simmons. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Sam Simmons won first-team, all conference honors after going 7-4 with a 2.51 earned run average and five saves. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Tournament schedule
At Clearwater, Fla.
Times listed are central

Wednesday

Game 1 – No. 6 FAU vs No. 7 Wichita State, noon.
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 8 Charlotte, 47 minutes afterward

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice vs. Game 1 winner, noon
Game 4 – No. 4 UAB vs. Game 2 winner, 47 minutes afterward

Friday

Game 5 – No. 2 East Carolina vs. Game 3 winner, 8 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 1 UTSA vs. Game 4 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 7 – Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 – Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Saturday

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

Notable

UTSA is advancing plans for improvements in baseball player development and also in the fan experience at Roadrunner Field, according to a news release published Tuesday on the athletic department website.

Plans feature a dedicated player development center that includes a new locker room, student-athlete lounge, equipment areas, batting cages and pitching development spaces.

This phase of the project is anticipated to break ground in early 2027.

Additional enhancements to fan amenities, including premium hospitality and seating areas, upgraded concessions and improved restroom facilities, are also being planned.

Connor Kelley. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Connor Kelley, a second team, all conference selection, had a 5-2 record and a 3.26 earned run average. He led the Roadrunners with 65 strikeouts. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Top-seeded UTSA set to start play in American Championship on Friday

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The American Baseball Championship tournament starts Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla., with top-seeded UTSA, having a double bye, opening play on Friday.

Wednesday

Game 1 – No. 6 FAU vs No. 7 Wichita State, noon.
Game 2 – No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 8 Charlotte, 47 minutes afterward

Thursday

Game 3 – No. 3 Rice vs. Game 1 winner, noon
Game 4 – No. 4 UAB vs. Game 2 winner, 47 minutes afterward

Friday

Saturday

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 47 minutes afterward
Game 11 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 47 minutes afterward

Sunday

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m.

Regular-season standings

UTSA 17-10, 36-19
East Carolina 17-10, 33-21-1
Rice 16-11, 34-22
UAB 15-12, 31-24
Memphis 13-14, 22-32
FAU 12-15, 28-27
Wichita State 12-15, 28-27
Charlotte 12-15, 28-27
South Florida 11-16, 32-21
Tulane 10-17, 25-31

Notable

Brady Waugh, Wesley Helms and JP Head homered on Saturday in an American Conference baseball regular-season finale as the UAB Blazers rolled to a 23-11 run-rule victory over the UTSA Roadrunners.

Officials called the game after eight innings. It was UTSA’s first loss of the season by run rule.

With a three-run lead, the Blazers sent 13 batters to the plate and broke it open with nine runs in the top of the fifth, as the visitors at Roadrunner Field won two of three in the series.

Records

UAB 31-24, 15-12
UTSA 36-19, 17-10

Coming up

American Conference tournament, Clearwater, Fla., Wednesday May 20 through May 24

Top-seeded UTSA, with a double bye, is set to open play on Friday, May 22, opponent TBA

Notable

The Roadrunners finished the regular season with five losses in their last eight games.

Included were an 11-8 loss at fourth-ranked Texas and a 19-4 run-rule victory over Texas State in non-conference play.

After the Texas game, the Roadrunners dropped two of three on the road in the American at Memphis.

Following the lopsided victory over Texas State, they lost two of three at home to UAB to close conference and regular-season play.

With four games left on the conference schedule, the Roadrunners held a comfortable three-game lead over the East Carolina Pirates in the conference standings.

The Pirates charged at the end to make up the difference, tying for first in the standings with a season-closing, three-game road sweep over the FAU Owls.

UTSA clinches back-to-back American baseball titles

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

The UTSA Roadrunners hoist their championship trophy Friday night after defeating the UAB Blazers 19-9 on the run rule, securing at least a share of the American Conference regular-season championship. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners fell behind twice Friday night but rallied both times, eventually storming to a 19-9, run-rule victory over the UAB Blazers, as they clinched at least a tie for the American Conference baseball title.

Officials called the game after UAB’s at bat in the top of the seventh on the run rule.

With the victory and the championship, the Roadrunners have now won the American two years in a row.

Diego Diaz lit up the UAB Blazers with two home runs, including a grand slam, and a double. He also produced six RBIs. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Last year, they did it in dominant fashion, winning 23 of 27 games in conference on the way to a school-record 47 victories and a trip to the NCAA Super Regional.

This year, they have recorded a 36-18 overall record, 17-9 in the American, leading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Blazers.

The East Carolina Pirates, at 32-21-1 and 16-10, still have a chance to tie for the top spot if they can win and the Roadrunners lose on the final day.

But even if that happens, Roadrunners would be regarded as co-champions and would be the No. 1 seed in next week’s American Conference tournament.

East Carolina beat the FAU Owls, 6-1, on Friday night to stay within one game of UTSA in the standings.

In an interview with ESPN after the game, an emotional seventh-year UTSA head coach Pat Hallmark acknowledged how much pride he felt in his players. He agreed that it was a special moment.

“We’re very grateful,” he said. “Just grateful for the players.”

For UTSA players and coaches, emotions have run the gamut over the past few weeks.

They lost two out of three last weekend in Memphis, the first time all season that they dropped a series in the conference.

Returning home, they run-ruled the regional rival Texas State Bobcats 19-4 Tuesday night in non-conference play, only to have the outcome marred by a postgame altercation between Hallmark and Texas State coaches.

Jacob Silva. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Jacob Silva, a UTSA sophomore from San Antonio Clark High School, jumps into a gaggle of teammates returning to the dugout after hitting one of his two home runs against UAB. – Photo by Joe Alexander

On Wednesday, UTSA released a statement, with athletic director Lisa Campos calling the coach’s conduct after the game “unacceptable.” Also in the statement, Hallmark apologized to UTSA, its fans and the Texas State program.

One night later, on Thursday, the Roadrunners hosted the Blazers in the first game of the season-ending series with a chance to clinch at least a share of the title.

But the Blazers made some sterling plays in the field and hit a couple of home runs to win 7-6, keeping the Roadrunners from celebrating.

In the end, the celebration came Friday night after UTSA pounded out 19 hits, including eight for extra bases.

Individually, both Diego Diaz and Jacob Silva socked two home runs apiece, with Diaz connecting on a first-inning grand slam.

Both talked about their emotions in post-game interviews with ESPN.

“I don’t know,” said Diaz, who also had a double on a three-hit, six RBI night. “I’m just seeing the ball well and trusting in the work that I’ve done.”

Added Silva, a transfer from TCU who played San Antonio Clark High School, “It’s a great feeling.”

Silva’s performance in the clincher was sweet after he didn’t see much playing time last year at TCU.

“The only thing I can ask for is an opportunity,” he said. “I thank coach (Pat) Hallmark and coach (Ryan) Aguayo and my teammates for having my back.”

Mike DeBattista. UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Senior Mike DeBattista earned the victory as UTSA claimed its second straight championship in the American. He shut down a UAB rally in the fourth inning and worked one and a third shutout innings, allowing only one hit. He walked one and struck out two. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Other UTSA players enjoyed monster nights, as well. Drew Detlefsen had four hits. Jordan Ballin tied Diaz with three base knocks apiece.

RBI leaders included Diaz with six, Silva with four and Caden Miller with three.

Everyone in the lineup scored at least once as UTSA picked up ace pitcher Conor Myles, who was rocked for nine runs in three and two thirds innings.

Myles entered the game with a 2.45 earned run average. When he exited, the Blazers held a 9-7 lead and had hit three home runs, one each by JP Head, Landon Beaver and Max Price.

UTSA fans fell silent in the fourth when Myles walked off the mound, replaced by Mike DeBattista. A few minutes later, they were roaring once again as the Roadrunners scored five in the bottom half of the inning.

They added another five in the fifth to make it 17-9. In the bottom of the sixth, the Roadrunners scored two more runs for the 10-run margin on Silva’s second homer of the night and Christian Hallmark’s RBI triple.

How it happened

The first inning, in itself, was an adventure.

With one out in the top half, UAB blasted back-to-back homers, courtesy of JP Head and Landon Beaver off UTSA ace Conor Myles.

After an error by UTSA third baseman Diego Diaz allowed a base runner to reach, Myles retired two straight to end the threat.

In the bottom half, the Roadrunners answered with a five-run, outburst off UAB starter Carter Samuelson.

UTSA ace Conor Myles had a tough night, yielding a season-high nine runs on eight hits in three and two thirds innings. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Samuelson dug himself a hole by walking Caden Miller, yielding a single to Drew Detlefsen and walking Lane Haworth to load the bases.

The UAB starter continued to struggle with command, walking Andrew Stucky to force in UTSA’s first run.

With the bases still loaded, Diaz jerked a 1-0 fastball to right field for a grand slam and a 5-2 lead.

Myles settled down in the top of the second, retiring three straight batters to set up more fireworks from his teammates.

UAB reliever Riley Miller, who put out the first inning fire, found trouble immediately in the second as Detlefsen cranked a double into the right-center field gap.

After Miller sat down the next two batters to face him, he encountered Diaz, who took an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field.

When it sailed into the screen over the left field wall for a two-run homer, the Roadrunners had jumped out to a 7-2 lead.

Who would have guessed that it would be the beginning of a monster comeback by the Blazers?

Well, it was.

In the third, the Blazers started the rally inconspicuously enough with one run an RBI single by Beaver.

By the fourth, it became a landslide. UAB started the inning with four straight hits off Myles, including an RBI single by Wesley Helms and a three-run homer by Max Price.

The Blazers weren’t finished. After Baylor Roberts reached on a hit by pitch, Kevin Hall Jr. slashed an RBI double for the go-ahead run. Hall subsequently scored on a wild pitch to give UAB a 9-7 lead.

From there, UTSA decided to make a pitching change, bringing in Mike DeBattista to get the last out.

Myles entered the game with 2.48 earned run average. He finished his day by working three and two thirds innings and yielding a season-high nine runs (all earned) on eight hits.

Down by two runs, UTSA staged a furious rally of its own.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Jacob Silva launched a two-run homer to center field off reliever Konner Keplinger.

Brendan Conner replaced Keplinger but couldn’t slow down the Roadrunners.

After Conner issued a walk to Christian Hallmark and Aidan Eshelman singled, Miller pulled a two-run single into right field.

Detlefsen’s third hit of the night drove in the fifth run of the inning and made it 12-9 UTSA.

By the fifth inning, UAB’s bullpen was beginning to show wear and tear as the Roadrunners scored five runs in an inning for the third time in the game.

The last three runs scored with two outs on RBI singles from Eshelman, Miller and Haworth. When Haworth stroked a ball to center field, Miller came around to score and made it 17-9.

Highlighting UTSA’s sixth inning, Silva homered to center and Christian Hallmark legged out an RBI triple for the final margin.

Records

UAB 30-24, 14-12
UTSA 36-18, 17-9

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.
American Conference tournament, May 20-24, in Clearwater, Fla.

Notable

UTSA’s back-to-back conference championships in the regular season are the second in school history and the first since 2007-08 in the Southland.

The Roadrunners will open play in the American tournament next Friday in Clearwater.

The eight-team tournament itself opens Wednesday, but the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds get a double by through to Friday. If UTSA can win its first two games, it will need only three wins to claim the postseason title.

American leaderboard

UTSA 17-9, 36-18
East Carolina 16-10, 32-21-1
Rice 15-11, 33-22
UAB 14-12, 30-24
Memphis 13-13, 22-31
FAU 12-14 28-26
South Florida 11-15, 32-20
Wichita State 11-15, 27-27
Charlotte 11-15, 27-27
Tulane 10-16, 25-30

UTSA baseball beat UAB 19-9 in 7 innings on Friday night, May 15, 2026, at Roadrunner Field to clinch the American Conference regular-season title. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA players sing the school song after their title-clinching victory Friday night. The Roadrunners will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming American Conference tournament. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UAB wins 7-6 and keeps UTSA from clinching the American baseball title

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

Caden Miller's first home run. UAB beat UTSA 7-6 in American Conference baseball on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Caden Miller belted a two-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the eighth in UTSA’s 7-6 loss to the UAB Blazers. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

With only two days left in the American Conference baseball race, the UTSA Roadrunners are still not champions.

Not yet, at least.

Despite hitting four home runs, including two by Caden Miller, the first-place Roadrunners lost 7-6 Thursday night at home to the UAB Blazers.

Meanwhile, in Boca Raton, Fla., the second-place East Carolina Pirates held off the FAU Owls in the ninth inning to win 7-5.

As a result, the Roadrunners’ magic number to clinch remained at one.

One win by the Roadrunners or one loss by the Pirates will give UTSA at least a share of the title.

Both of the top two in the standings have two games remaining, with UTSA ace Conor Myles scheduled to pitch Friday night against UAB.

UAB pitcher Mason Steele. UAB beat UTSA 7-6 in American Conference baseball on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UAB starting pitcher Mason Steele (6-3) earned the victory. He went eight and a third innings and gave up six runs on six hits. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The teams close out the series and the regular season Saturday at Roadrunner Field.

After the opening game in the series, players quietly packed up and went into a meeting in the clubhouse with UTSA coaches.

Then they filtered outside, with some leaving and others waiting around to talk with friends and family.

Miller, who has hit three home runs this week, agreed to talk to a reporter for a few minutes and offered a succinct description of the mood among players.

“It sucks,” Miller said. “But it’s in the past now. Got to get ready for tomorrow.”

“The biggest thing is, we’ve got a game tomorrow.

“Be grateful that we got a game tomorrow and be ready to play — to play UTSA baseball.”

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark said the team played “fine” except for walking a few too many batters early in the game.

Hallmark credited UAB pitcher Mason Steele and the defense behind him for combining to hold down UTSA’s offense, which exploded in a 19-4 win Tuesday against Texas State.

“We only had seven hits in 33 at bats,” the coach said. “Steele only walked us once, and they made some plays … Their defense played good.”

The Blazers started fast, scoring four runs in the second inning for a 4-0 lead.

Connor Kelley. UAB beat UTSA 7-6 in American Conference baseball on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA junior Connor Kelley pitched the final five and two thirds innings, yielding only a run on three hits. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The Roadrunners retaliated with one run in their half of the second and four more in the third to surge ahead, 5-4.

In the second, Diego Diaz connected on a solo homer, UTSA’s first in a conference game since April 25.

The Roadrunners hit a pair of two-run homers off Steele in the third, one by Miller and another by Andrew Stucky.

The Blazers answered immediately in the fourth with some thunder of their own as Landon Beaver rocked Roadrunners reliever Christopher Gutierrez with a two-run homer to straight-away center.

They added another run in the sixth on a solo shot by Baylor Roberts for a 7-5 lead.

Miller gave UTSA hope in the eighth when he cranked a solo shot over the right field wall to account for the eventual final score.

Counting a home run that he hit Tuesday night against the Bobcats, Miller has lashed three round trippers in the last 72 hours and nine for the season.

“Just trying to stay loose and relaxed,” he said. “I don’t try to do too much up there.

“Just trusting in what coach (Ryan) Aguayo and coach Hallmark have taught me, and I think just trying to stay out of my own way, going up there and trusting the work that I’ve put in.

“Just going up there ready to hit.”

With UAB leading by the eventual final score, UTSA caught a brief spark in the bottom of the ninth.

Josh Arquette, facing UAB reliever Chase Ingram, lofted a pop fly into left field that got lost in the lights, and it dropped for a two-out double.

As Roadrunners fans cheered the development, Brandon Bishop entered the game as a pinch runner and as the potential tying run.

Diego Diaz. UAB beat UTSA 7-6 in American Conference baseball on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA’s Diego Diaz smashed a solo home run in the second inning for his team’s first run of the game. – Photo by Joe Alexander

But it wasn’t meant to be as Roadrunners sophomore Jordan Ballin drilled a hot ground ball to short, which turned into the game-ending play.

Records

UAB 30-23, 14-11
UTSA 35-18, 16-9

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.

American leaderboard

UTSA 16-9, 35-18
East Carolina 15-10, 31-21-1
UAB 14-11, 30-23
Rice 14-11, 32-22

Notable

UAB righthander Mason Steele (6-3) earned the victory. He worked eight and a third innings, allowing six runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out four.

UTSA reliever Christopher Gutierrez (1-3) threw only one pitch in the game and was saddled with the loss. The freshman lefthander entered in relief of Gunnar Brown in the fourth inning.

One runner was aboard and UAB had slugging, left-side hitting Landon Beavers coming to bat. Beavers cranked a pitch from Gutierrez over the center field wall.

UAB’s Baylor Roberts hit a solo shot in the top of the sixth off UTSA reliever Connor Kelley, who yielded one run on three hits in five and two thirds.

UAB closer Chase Ingram. UAB beat UTSA 7-6 in American Conference baseball on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UAB closer Chase Ingram picked up his third save by getting two outs in the ninth, including a game-closing ground ball by Jordan Ballin. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA’s Campos calls Hallmark’s actions in altercation ‘unacceptable’

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA issued a statement critical of Roadrunners baseball coach Pat Hallmark on Wednesday night, nearly 24 hours after a post-game, altercation between Hallmark and coaches of the Texas State Bobcats.

UTSA Athletic Director Lisa Campos at the grand opening celebration of the UTSA Park West Fieldhouse facility in front of the school's soccer and track and field stadiums. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA athletic director Lisa Campos: ‘It is clear that Coach Hallmark’s conduct last night was unacceptable. I have addressed his words and actions with him and I am confident that he understands and acknowledges that it cannot happen again.’ – File photo by Joe Alexander

Athletic director Lisa Campos, in the statement, called Hallmark’s actions “unacceptable.” Hallmark apologized to UTSA, its fans and the Texas State baseball program.

The university’s statement came on the eve of an important regular-season ending, three-game series involving the Roadrunners and the UAB Blazers.

The series opens Thursday night and runs through Saturday at Roadrunner Field.

If UTSA can win one game out of the three, it would clinch at least a tie for the regular-season title in the American Conference.

After UTSA defeated Texas State 19-4 Tuesday night on the run rule, coaches for both teams gathered at home plate to discuss whether a Roadrunners pitcher had thrown at one of the Bobcats’ hitters.

During the exchange, tempers flared, and video showed Hallmark shoving a Texas State coach.

After the game, the UTSA coach said one of Texas State’s assistants “put his hands on me, so I put my hands back on him.”

Videos that appeared on social media captured a heated exchange between Hallmark and the Texas State coaches.

A video shot by Rylan Renteria, sports editor of The Paisano, the student newspaper at UTSA, showed coaches shouting at each other as Texas State players angrily hurled insults at Hallmark.

The incident led to communication during the day on Wednesday between administrators at UTSA and Texas State.

In a statement released just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, Campos, the UTSA vice president and director of athletics, criticized Hallmark’s conduct.

“After reviewing last night’s incident with Pat Hallmark, Texas State Athletics Director Don Coryell, American Conference officials and others, it is clear that Coach Hallmark’s conduct last night was unacceptable,” Campos said.

Added Campos, “I have addressed his words and actions with him and I am confident that he understands and acknowledges that it cannot happen again. We consider the matter closed.”

Hallmark, in the statement, expressed contrition for his role in the incident.

“I want to apologize to UTSA and our incredible fans for any embarrassment I may have caused for my conduct after last night’s game,” Hallmark said.

Added the coach, “I also want to apologize to the Texas State baseball program, its coaches, student-athletes and fans.

“Regardless of my motivation or provocation, I did not represent the sportsmanship and character that we demand of our student-athletes and that UTSA expects and deserves. I will do better.”

It remains to be seen how the controversy will affect the Roadrunners, who lead the American Conference by two games over the East Carolina Pirates and by three over the Blazers and the Rice Owls.

All have three games to play.

The title would be UTSA’s second straight after Hallmark’s 2025 team won the American, advanced to the NCAA tournament and defeated the Texas Longhorns in the Austin Regional.

Some hailed the baseball team’s success last year as the greatest team achievement in school history.

Records

UAB 29-23, 13-11
UTSA 35-17, 16-8

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Thursday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners won their first seven series in the American this season and 18 straight dating back to May of 2024. The streak was broken last week when they dropped two of three games at Memphis.

When Caden Miller blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday against Texas State, it was only the third home run for UTSA in eight games in May.

All three of the home runs have been hit in Tuesday night games. The Roadrunners haven’t hit a home run on the weekend since April 25 at Tulane when Miller, Cade Sadler and Diego Diaz went deep.

UTSA hasn’t hit a homer in seven straight conference games since then, the finale at Tulane, three at home against Wichita State and three on the road last week at Memphis.

Senior Gunnar Brown (2-0, 5.77) is expected to start tonight for the Roadrunners against junior Mason Steele (5-3, 4.65).

Brown is one of 10 seniors set to be honored before Saturday’s regular-season finale. Players set to be recognized are:

Mike DeBattista
Drew Detlefsen
Josh Vaughn
Brandon Bishop
James Hubbard
Cade Sadler
Sam Simmons
Christian Okerholm
Gunnar Brown
Broc Parmer

Tempers flare between I-35 rivals after UTSA run-rules Texas State, 19-4

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

Aidan Eshelman. UTSA beat Texas State 19-4 in non-conference baseball on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Freshman Aidan Eshelman had three hits and four RBIs Tuesday night as the Roadrunners opened a 15-run lead after three innings and walloped the Texas State Bobcats, 19-4. The game was called on the run rule in the seventh. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The latest chapter of the I-35 baseball rivalry between the UTSA Roadrunners and the Texas State Bobcats came complete with a wild ending Tuesday night as tempers flared between opposing coaching staffs.

After stuffing a potential big inning for Texas State in the top of the first, UTSA rallied for eight runs in the bottom half, capped by Caden Miller’s two-run homer.

By the time umpires called it on the run rule after Texas State’s at bat in the top of the seventh, the Roadrunners emerged with a 19-4 victory in a game with NCAA tournament implications.

Pat Hallmark. UTSA beat Texas State 19-4 in non-conference baseball on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark’s team can clinch at least a share of the American Conference regular-season title if it wins once in a three-game series against UAB starting Thursday at Roadrunner Field. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA freshman shortstop Aidan Eshelman starred offensively with three hits, including a double and two singles, and four RBIs.

He also scored three times.

As soon as the game was completed between the NCAA tournament contenders, coaches from both teams congregated at home plate.

Emotions soon boiled over with the Bobcats alleging that Roadrunners relief pitcher James Hubbard had been throwing at their hitters.

“I don’t know what happened with Hubbard,” UTSA coach Pat Hallmark said. “I guess they didn’t like it.”

In the postgame, an observer close to the action in the top of the sixth inning described an at bat by Texas State’s Blake Beheler against Hubbard.

After the first pitch arrived as a routine ball one, the next three sailed behind Beheler, who had had hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

The three pitches thrown behind the batter zoomed past the dirt circle around home plate, thudding against the padded wall at the screen.

At that juncture, umpire Jared Higdon issued a warning to both benches.

In his postgame remarks, Hallmark told reporters that he had been talking at home plate with Texas State coach Steve Trout about the Hubbard “situation” when things got heated.

During the conversation, one of the Texas State assistants standing nearby “put his hands on me,” Hallmark said.

“So,” the UTSA coach said, “I put my hands back on him. I hope the video is available so everybody can see he put his hands on me first, and, I’m not going to let him put his hands on me.”

A Texas State assistant coach?

Kendall Dove. UTSA beat Texas State 19-4 in non-conference baseball on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA pitcher Kendall Dove earned the victory in one and two thirds innings of relief. Dove entered the game with two runners on base in the first inning and held Texas State scoreless. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“Yes,” Hallmark said. “I don’t even know his name. You can print that, too. I don’t know his name. But he put his hands on me, and then, I’m going to defend myself from people that put their hands on me.

“Print it all.”

Earlier in the afternoon, about 15 minutes before the first pitch, fans from both schools jammed the grandstands at the modest stadium on the UTSA campus.

They also filled just about every corner of space down the left and right field lines.

Likely, it was the largest crowd of the season at Roadrunner Field (announced later at 1,585).

The crowd included fans supporting both teams, who turned out to watch a game in the last week of the regular season between in-state rivals from separate conferences.

The Roadrunners (35-17) of the American Conference held off the hard-hitting visitors early.

In the first few innings, frustration for the Sun Belt-affiliated Bobcats (31-22) mounted as they kept hitting the ball hard, only to come up with one early run.

UTSA, meanwhile, kept taking advantage of a blizzard of Texas State mistakes in the form of walks, batters hit by pitches and errors.

By the end of the third, the Roadrunners had taken a 16-1 lead, effectively putting behind them last week’s disappointing stretch of four games in which they lost three.

Texas State's Rashawn Galloway. UTSA beat Texas State 19-4 in non-conference baseball on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Rashawn Galloway leads Texas State with a .341 batting average. The senior from Boerne is a key player on a team vying for NCAA tournament consideration. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“I’m proud of ’em,” Hallmark said of his players. “Swung the bat good. We did everything pretty well. Starting pitching wasn’t very good, but I’m very proud of (reliever Kendall) Dove going out there and throwing strikes and getting us out of that first inning.”

In the top of the first, the Bobcats had a chance to break the game open with a big inning, but they all they got was a zero on the scoreboard.

Credit Hallmark for stopping the rally before it could really get started and then Dove for finishing it.

After Roadrunners starter Blayne Lyne walked leadoff hitter Rashawn Galloway on five pitches, he threw two more balls to the next man up, Manny Salas.

At that point, catcher Andrew Stucky visited the mound as the UTSA bullpen started to get busy. Two pitches later, Hallmark walked out to the mound to make a change.

Dove entered the game and yielded a hard-hit single by Salas to left, sending Galloway to third base.

At that point, the momentum started to turn in UTSA’s favor, as Jacquae Stewart bounced a ball back to the pitcher for the first out.

On the out, Salas advanced to second base, giving the Bobcats a prime opportunity with runners at second and third and cleanup hitter Clayton Namken at the plate.

Namken, a freshman from New Braunfels, hit two home runs in the Bobcats’ fourth straight victory in a game Arkansas State on Sunday afternoon.

As he faced Dove, Namken promptly drilled an extremely loud line drive that looked like it had the velocity to go all the way to the wall if nobody stopped it,

Fortunately for UTSA, the ball went straight to Eshelman at shortstop.

The freshman made the easy catch and flipped to second base to double off Salas for a double play that ended a scoreless inning.

In the bottom of the first, the Roadrunners exploded for eight runs on five hits and three Bobcats errors. As a result, Texas State starter Titan Targac (2-4) was tagged with the loss.

Dove (4-1) earned the victory in one and two thirds innings, during which he yielded one run on four hits.

Mike DeBattista. UTSA beat Texas State 19-4 in non-conference baseball on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Mike DeBattista worked two innings for the Roadrunners and threw a team-high 40 pitches. He gave up two hits, two unearned runs and a walk while striking out three. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Records

Texas State 31-22
UTSA 35-17

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Thursday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.
(end of regular season)

American Conference tournament, at Clearwater, Fla., May 20-24.

NCAA implications

In February, Texas State won the first meeting this season in San Marcos.

UTSA rebounded with the resounding victory over its rival on Tuesday night, setting up a potential debate within the NCAA tournament selection committee about which team has the stronger case to make the 64-team field.

Texas State entered Tuesday night with a No. 43 RPI ranking, against No. 50 for UTSA.

“It’s a big game,” Hallmark said, “because we could be in a situation for an at-large bid against them … We have some work to do this weekend (against UAB).

“But if we can do what … we need to do, (and) then you compare our resume’s, hopefully we have a conference championship and a 1-1 record and a big win against ’em.

“If it comes down to an at large (bid) between us and them, I think it should clearly, clearly go our way.”

D1 Baseball and Baseball America mention both UTSA and Texas State in their latest NCAA tournament projections.

Notes on the rivalry

In the I-35 baseball rivalry, Texas State leads UTSA 64-43 in an all-time series that dates back to 1992.

On the 11th day of this season on Feb. 24, Texas State won 7-2 in San Marcos, but UTSA retaliated in the season’s last week, winning by a 15-run margin in the rematch.

Both the 19 runs and the 15-run margin are records in the series for UTSA victories.

The difference in the two games this season?

Texas State pitching gave up only two freebies in San Marcos, walking one batter and hitting one with a pitch.

On Tuesday night in San Antonio, the number was 14, including nine walks issued by Texas State pitching, plus five hit by pitch.

Hallmark vs. Trout

UTSA’s Pat Hallmark and Texas State’s Steve Trout have coached 11 games against one another.

Hallmark’s Roadrunners now hold a 6-5 advantage on Trout and the Bobcats, including a 4-1 edge at Roadrunner Field.

After Hallmark’s initial postgame remarks, he was approached by a reporter who identified himself as being from the Austin American-Statesman.

The reporter said that he had talked to Trout and that they had talked about what happened after the game.

“I’ll tell you exactly what happened,” Hallmark said.

“He said he asked you about throwing at the hitter,” the reporter said.

“We didn’t throw at the hitter,” Hallmark responded. “But he asked me about the situation with Hubbard.”

To which the reporter responded, “He said that you basically confirmed that you were throwing at him.”

Responded Hallmark, “No. That’s not true. I said I don’t know what happened. He said, ‘It looked pretty odd.’ I said, I don’t know what happened. But I know he bat-flipped.’

“And then their assistant coach put his hands on me. And that’s when I put my hands back on him.”

The reporter then asked if Hallmark wanted to say anything else about the incident.

“I will say that I don’t know that we were throwing at him,” Hallmark said. “I know their guy bat-flipped (after the home run). And then I know that happened, that’s all I know.”

Asked the reporter, “Would you consider that disrespectful?”

Responded Hallmark, “Yes.”

Christian Hallmark. UTSA beat Texas State 19-4 in non-conference baseball on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Christian Hallmark beats a relay throw from the outfield with a head-first slide into third base in a five-run third inning. Hallmark, the son of the UTSA head coach, dashed from first to third on a single to right field by Aidan Eshelman. – Photo by Joe Alexander

I-35 rivalry: UTSA baseball hosts Texas State tonight

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

After dropping a heartbreaker to nationally-ranked Texas and then losing a series in the American Conference at Memphis, the UTSA Roadrunners have returned home to the Alamo City, trying to forget about it all and focus on the future.

The Roadrunners’ future is now as they prepare to play their non-conference finale at home today against the regional rival Texas State Bobcats, followed by three at home against the UAB Blazers on Thursday through Saturday to close out their American Conference regular-season schedule.

“Losing three games in a week is disappointing,” UTSA third baseman Diego Diaz said, “but I think by now, we should all be moving past it and just looking forward to the next game. Just the next pitch, the next at bat, whatever it is. Just looking forward to the next win.”

Records

Texas State 31-21
UTSA 34-17

Coming up

Texas State at UTSA, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Thursday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.

American Conference tournament, at Clearwater, Fla., May 20-24

Notable

The Bobcats have won four in a row and have surged into the conversation as an NCAA tournament candidate out of the Sun Belt Conference.

Last week, Texas State won a home game at Baylor and then went on the road to win three straight Sun Belt games at Arkansas State.

With the victories, the Bobcats moved up to No. 43 in the latest ratings percentage index, ahead of the Roadrunners at No. 50.

In the Sun Belt, Coastal Carolina and Southern Mississippi are regarded by Baseball America magazine as “locks” to make the NCAA field, with Louisiana, South Alabama, Texas State and Troy in position to grab a third bid out of the conference.

By contrast, Baseball America projects the American as a one-bid conference at the moment, with the only sure pathway to the NCAA bracket being a championship run in the conference tournament.

The latest projection in D1 Baseball is more favorable to the American and the league-leading Roadrunners.

The website projects the American with two bids, with UTSA getting one of them and East Carolina the other. D1 Baseball projects that in the Sun Belt, Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina and Texas State will get invitations.

Regardless of the speculation, the Roadrunners need to win this week. They need to win tonight for the regional bragging rights and the RPI points. They need to win against UAB to claim the conference title.

As important as anything, they need to feel good about themselves and be healthy going into Clearwater next week.

“We know what’s in front of us,” UTSA coach Pat Hallmark said. “We’re going to do what we always do, which is prepare, and these guys will compete. I’ll try to stay focused in the game and make the right moves.

“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t, and then we’ll adapt and learn from all of it and do it again the next day.”

I-35 rivalry notable

Texas State leads the all-time series, 64-42, including a 7-2 victory over UTSA earlier this season in San Marcos. But since Steve Trout took over the Bobcats and Pat Hallmark the Roadrunners in 2020, it’s been a 5-5 series.

Since then, Hallmark and the Roadrunners have won three out of four against their rivals in San Antonio, winning 11-9 in 2024 and 12-9 last season. The Bobcats’ last win at Roadrunner Field came in 2023 when they won 5-3.

UTSA will take a two-game lead in conference into the final weekend

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Led by home runs from Trae Cassidy and James Smith IV, the Memphis Tigers exploded on Sunday for a 10-5 victory over UTSA, dashing the Roadrunners’ hopes of clinching a tie for first in the American Conference’s regular-season title chase.

The Tigers, in taking two out of three on the weekend, also handed the Roadrunners their first series loss in the American since May of 2024. UTSA had won all seven series in conference this season and 18 in row.

At the end of the day, the first-place Roadrunners held a two-game lead over the second-place East Carolina Pirates, with the Rice Owls and the UAB Blazers tied for third, three games off the pace. Each team has three remaining.

UTSA returns home this week to play regional rival Texas State in a non-conference contest on Tuesday night, followed by three in the American against UAB starting Thursday to close out the regular season.

East Carolina closes at the end of the week with three games at FAU in Boca Raton, while Rice plays three at home in Houston against Tulane. The conference tournament runs from May 20-24 in Clearwater, Fla.

UTSA is still in the driver’s seat to claim its second straight conference title. With one more victory, the Roadrunners can clinch at least a share of the championship.

In Memphis, it was a tough weekend for the visitors from San Antonio. The Tigers won 6-4 on Friday night, and UTSA rebounded Saturday with a 9-2 victory, setting up the rubber match at FedEx Park.

The Roadrunners had a chance to win it on Sunday after scoring three runs in the top of the sixth and taking a 4-2 lead.

In the uprising, Diego Diaz and Cade Sadler produced RBI singles and then UTSA pulled off a double steal for the two-run lead.

Undaunted, Memphis exploded for eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the inning against UTSA relievers Mike DeBattista and Christopher Gutierrez, opening a 10-4 advantage.

Smith capped the outburst with a three-run homer off Gutierrez that landed in a parking lot far beyond the left field wall.

Records

UTSA 34-17, 16-8
Memphis 21-29, 12-12

Coming up

Texas State at UTSA, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Thursday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.

American Conference tournament, at Clearwater, Fla., May 20-24.

Around the American

East Carolina shut out Rice 3-0 on Sunday in Greenville, N.C., moving into second place in the standings and pulling to within two games of the Roadrunners. Later Sunday, Charlotte downed UAB 10-8 in 10 innings, dropping UAB into a tie for third with Rice.

American leaderboard

UTSA 16-8, 34-17
East Carolina 14-10, 30-21-1
UAB 13-11, 29-22
Rice 13-11, 31-21
FAU 12-12, 27-24
Memphis 12-12, 21-29
Wichita State 11-13, 27-25
Charlotte 10-14, 25-26
Tulane 10-14, 25-28
South Florida 9-15, 30-20

Notable

Claiming the regular-season title is regarded as significant in UTSA’s quest for a return trip to the NCAA tournament. Since the first year of baseball in the American in 2014, every regular-season champion in the conference since then has pulled down an NCAA bid. That would also include both UCF and Houston when they tied for first in 2017.

I-35 update

The Texas State Bobcats hit six home runs Sunday in a 15-9 victory to sweep three games from Arkansas State at Jonesboro, Ark. Boerne’s Rashawn Galloway and New Braunfels’ Clayton Namken hit two homers apiece for Texas State. They have won four straight overall, improving to 31-21 on the season. The Bobcats are 13-14 in the Sun Belt. Texas State beat UTSA 7-2 on Feb. 24 in San Marcos.

UTSA downs Memphis; second straight title in the American is in reach

Posted on May 9, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The first-place UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday moved closer to their second straight regular-season baseball title in the American Conference.

About an hour after they won 9-2 on the road against the Memphis Tigers, the Roadrunners’ lead in the American standings expanded to three games following the Rice Owls’ 5-3 victory over the East Carolina Pirates.

With a 16-7 record in the American, UTSA now leads three teams tied for second — Rice, East Carolina and UAB — all at 13-10. All have four games to play.

UAB kept pace with the leaders earlier in the day when the Blazers downed the Charlotte 49ers, 11-2.

In Memphis, UTSA scored six runs with two outs to back the pitching of senior Conor Myles. Myles (9-1) worked six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, in the game played in Memphis at FedEx Park.

The lefty from Australia out-dueled Memphis lefty David Case (5-7) and earned a win that allowed the Roadrunners to rebound from a frustrating loss.

After leaving 14 runners on base and losing 6-4 to Memphis on Friday, UTSA needed a bounce-back effort to keep moving in the direction of a second straight title.

The Roadrunners also needed the win to avoid losing a series in conference for the first time since May of 2024.

UTSA’s offense came through with 13 hits, including two each by Drew Detlefsen, Caden Miller and Cade Sadler.

Detlefsen, who leads the conference in RBIs, went two for six and drove in two.

Josh Arquette, starting at third base as part of a ploy to give the Roadrunners more right-side hitting against a left-handed starter, also had a hit and two RBIs.

A day after hitting only three-for-21 with runners on base, the Roadrunners hit eight for 23 with runners on and eight for 16 with two outs.

Records

UTSA 34-16, 16-7
Memphis 20-29, 11-12

Coming up

UTSA at Memphis, Sunday, 11 a.m.
x-Texas State at UTSA, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Thursday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
UAB at UTSA, Saturday, 11 a.m.
x-non conference; all others American conference games

Notable

Sunday’s game between the UTSA Roadrunners and the Memphis Tigers has been moved up to an 11 a.m. central time start.

Rice making noise

A little more than a week ago, the Roadrunners sat in a tie for first in the American standings with the East Carolina Pirates and the UAB Blazers.

With outside help from the in-state rival Rice Owls, the Roadrunners have since taken a commanding three-game lead, starting by taking care of their own business and sweeping three from the Wichita State Shockers at home and then splitting its first two on the road at Memphis.

In the same span, East Carolina dropped two of three on the road at Memphis, before losing twice at home to Rice in the past few days. The UAB Blazers, in turn, lost three in Houston at Rice last weekend before splitting its first two at home against Charlotte.

Earlier this season, the Roadrunners won series against both the Pirates and the Owls. They will close the regular season with three at home against the Blazers.

Memphis scores a 6-4 victory to cool off first-place UTSA

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Jerry Briggs

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Marcus Smith hit high-hop, two-run single over first base in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night, breaking up a tie game and leading the Memphis Tigers to a 6-4 victory over the mistake-prone UTSA Roadrunners.

Carson Fair closed in the ninth inning as the Tigers won the opener of an American Conference three-game series at FedEx Park in Memphis.

With the victory, Memphis (20-28, 11-11) stayed in the thick of the chase for a berth in the conference’s postseason tournament. For the Roadrunners (33-16, 15-7), the loss was a disappointment as they squandered a chance to open a three-game lead in the American.

Instead, UTSA leads second-place East Carolina by two games and UAB and Rice by three with five to play in conference.

The Roadrunners, who led 3-0 after two innings, endured a night of frustration on multiple levels.

Offensively, they managed only four hits against Tigers pitching and left 14 runners on base.

UTSA drew 11 walks and three hit by pitch, but one of the most productive offenses in the conference couldn’t seem to move anyone along when it counted, as the Roadrunners were limited to three-for-21 hitting with runners on base.

Defensively, they made five errors, including three by freshman shortstop Aidan Eshelman.

Memphis, meanwhile, took another step toward locking up a berth in the postseason tournament. In conference play, the Tigers have completely flipped the script, opening at 3-8 and following with an 8-3 surge in their last 11.

Game 2 of the series against the Roadrunners is Saturday, with the Game 3 finale on Sunday afternoon.

UTSA will need to win both remaining games to keep alive its streak of conference series victories. The Roadrunners have won all seven of their series in the American this season and 18 straight dating back to May of 2024.

Records

UTSA 33-16, 15-7
Memphis 20-28, 11-11

Coming up

UTSA at Memphis, Saturday, 2 p.m.
UTSA at Memphis, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Texas State at UTSA, Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners scored three runs in the top of the second off Memphis starter Will Howell. The first three batters in the inning reached on a hit by pitch, a walk and a bunt single by Jordan Ballin.

With one out, Howell threw a wild pitch that skipped past the catcher, allowing Jacob Silva to score from third for the first run of the game. Next, Christian Hallmark scored from third on a Caden Miller sacrifice fly.

It was an unusual play as the pop up in foul territory was caught with the third baseman back pedaling, giving Hallmark just enough of an opening to race home and slide head first under the tag for the second run.

Drew Detlefsen followed with an RBI double off the base of the wall to make it 3-0. Howell walked the next two batters but escaped further damage when Diego Diaz popped up to right field for the third out.

An early defensive highlight for the Roadrunners came in the bottom of the third when Detlefsen robbed Trae Cassidy of what could have been either a two-run homer, or, at least, an extra-base hit that would have scored a run.

Later in the inning, though, Memphis’ Brady McAbee drilled a three-run homer off UTSA starter Gunnar Brown to tie the game, 3-3. McAbee led Memphis with two hits in four at bats and four RBIs.

Another crazy play emerged in the top of the fifth inning. With UTSA’s Jordan Ballin at second base, Eshelman popped up in the infield. Memphis reliever Isaac Lucas, however, couldn’t get a glove on the ball and it fell to the turf for an RBI double for a 4-3 UTSA lead.

McAbee, facing UTSA’s Connor Kelley, drilled an RBI single in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the game.